Safety scrutinized after truck rollover kills 12

Zhejiang province is closely scrutinizing farm vehicles after a tractor that had been converted into a truck rolled over on Sunday in Taizhou with 22 passengers aboard. Twelve of the passengers were killed, and 10 others were injured. The driver was also hurt.

A large-scale safety campaign that started on Monday will continue until Friday to stop the illegal transport of passengers using farm vehicles and to keep such vehicles off the roads unless they obtain proper licenses.

Local police will also patrol intersections in rural areas and tunnels, and anyone who breaks road regulations will be severely punished, the statement said.

The rollover happened around 2 pm on Sunday. The truck, driven by Lin Dongfu, rolled over on a hillside in Taizhou. Most of those who died were senior citizens.

The 11 injured, including Lin, were rushed to nearby hospitals. Lin was later detained by police.

After the accident, the Ministry of Public Security dispatched a team to investigate and handle related details.

China's road transportation laws and regulations stipulate that utility and agricultural vehicles in rural areas can only be used on farmland and may transport cargo only in designated areas. They are not allowed to transport people.

Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday that in other places, such as Changchun, Jilin province, local police have beefed up their checks and launched educational campaigns about transportation via utility vehicle to ensure road safety, since spring farm work is in full swing.